Newcastle United's Joey Barton has been photographed pushing a wheelbarrow full of lawn clippings and garden debris as he completed the terms of his sentence. The player was given 200 hours of community service and a suspended jail stretch for beating fellow footballer Ousmane Dabo.

Some question the efficacy of community service, seeing it as too lenient a punishment for serious offences such as assault or even knife crime. Labour politicians have highlighted the benefits of community service hours accompanied by regular appointments with probation officers. They have also arrgued it should be more of a visible process (most notably by giving offenders marked jackets). The Conservatives do not wholeheartedly support restorative justice, arguing for a tougher approach.

Do you think community service works? Should offenders carrying out their sentence have to wear uniforms to mark them out to the public? Or would you advocate more jail sentences?